NDSU vs.
The NDSU men picked up their first victory of the 2006
season with a solid 3-1 victory over the SDSU Jackrabbits. The majority of the first half was evenly
played. SDSU showed patience in building
their attack, but the NDSU midfielders and defense shut down any threats with
solid physical play. NDSU would attempt
to counterattack, but most of their crosses and passes were just off point
enough for the SDSU defense and goalkeeper to avert. The Bison finally struck first in the 25th
minute. Stopper Kellen
Nesvig sent an incredible through ball to forward Selam Ahmed, who snuck behind the SDSU defense and calmly
but the ball past the keeper to give the 1-0 lead. After some more up-and-down play by both
teams, the half ended with the Bison up 1-0.
NDSU started to take control of the game in the second
half with improved passing, great runs up the field and physical play. The Bison scored again 20 minutes into the
second half when Taylor Zimmerman made a crafty run along SDSU’s
end line and dropped the ball up to freshman midfielder Garrett Johnson. Garrett sent a well-placed shot into the top
of the net to give NDSU a two goal lead.
The Bison kept pressuring and ten minutes later put the game away with
their third goal. Zimmerman sent in a
nice corner kick, and after a scramble in front of the net Fernando Bales got
just enough on the ball to send it over the goal line. In the 78th minute, the Jackrabbits got on
the board when they were awarded a penalty kick after midfielder Brent Nelson
made contact with a